Sheld-geese and man in the Falkland Islands

Abstract

Abstract The history of the association between sheld-geese (upland geese Chloephaga picta and ruddy-headed geese C. rubidiceps) and man in the Falkland Islands is described from the time when they were used as food by early settlers, to the conflict with the sheep industry. Geese were found to be extremely abundant when man first settled. A bounty scheme was instigated by sheep farmers in 1905 and claimed 74 000 geese annually between 1905 and 1912. Far fewer (25 000 annually) were killed in the late 1970s because fewer shepherds lived in the remote houses of sheep stations, and the bounty did not increase in proportion with wage increases. The population of geese remains large despite this toll and recent studies of the annual cycle, movements and population dynamics give reasons for the failure of the bounty scheme to reduce numbers. Information on food intake and densities of geese on different vegetation types has indicated that the geese populations take only 1·5% of the total annual organic matter production of herbage. This represents 7% of what is eaten by all the herbivores. However, most of this consumption is restricted to a few vegetation types with a relatively small area (e.g. ‘greens’ and reseeded pastures). It is the consumption from reseeds that causes the biggest problem to the sheep industry. Methods of control are discussed and the value of destruction of geese questioned.